This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

If cost is the reason you've been putting off STD testing, Austin has several ways to get tested at no charge. This guide walks through what to bring, which local programs offer free testing, and what to expect at each step, so you can choose the option that fits your situation.

What You'll Need Before You Go

A photo ID, if you have one. Most free testing programs in Austin do not require one, but it can speed up check-in.
Your insurance card, if you have one. You will not need it for the free options described below, but having it on hand lets staff check whether a different visit type might also be covered.
A rough timeline of any possible exposure, so a clinician can talk with you about timing.
A phone number or email address where you can receive results privately.
About 30 to 60 minutes, plus travel time, for a clinic visit, or a mailing address if you plan to request an at-home test.

Step-by-Step: Getting Free STD Testing in Austin

Step 1: Decide what kind of test fits your situation

Some free programs in Austin cover HIV testing only. Others cover a broader panel. Think about whether you want HIV testing alone, a fuller STI panel, or testing because you have symptoms versus no symptoms, since this affects which program applies to you. If you have symptoms, plan to see a clinician in person rather than relying on a home test alone.

Step 2: Pick a free testing option in Austin

A few Austin-area organizations currently offer no-cost testing:

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, offers testing and treatment at no charge, according to ASHwell's own services page, though the clinic notes there can be separate costs tied to medication. ASHwell does not accept walk-ins, so call (512) 900-3116 first.
Vivent Health - Austin, 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, states on its own page that it offers free HIV testing at all of its locations. A federal clinic directory also lists free STI and hepatitis C testing at this site, so it's worth asking what's included when you call (512) 458-2437 to check walk-in hours.
Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program offers free HIV counseling and testing for people who do not have symptoms, along with a free 20-minute walk-in express HIV test, per Austin Public Health's HIV page. Call 512-972-5430 to ask where and when this is offered, since the page does not list a specific location.

Austin Public Health's regular Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center charges a $30 fee for testing and treatment, so it is low-cost rather than free. If none of the free options above fit your situation, our guide to STD testing in Austin, where to get tested and what it costs breaks down sliding-scale and low-cost clinics in more detail.

Step 3: Consider a free at-home test if a clinic visit is hard to schedule

If getting to a clinic is a barrier, Texas and national programs offer free mail-order testing:

Test for Texas, run by the Texas Department of State Health Services, provides free at-home self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. You can order a kit at testfortexas.org.
Vivent Health's online depot ships free at-home HIV test kits, along with condoms and lubricant, to Austin residents, with a stated limit of 25 items per order.
Together TakeMeHome, a CDC-funded program, mails free HIV self-tests to anyone age 17 or older living in the United States, with two tests per package and the option to reorder every 90 days.

Step 4: Call ahead or schedule before you show up

Hours and availability change, and Austin Public Health notes on its own site that content updates can lag, so call before you go. Kind Clinic's Koenig Lane location offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C, according to Kind Clinic's own page, but its walk-in hours differ from its general office hours and the clinic is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of each month. Kind Clinic's South Austin location does not offer walk-in STI testing at all. ASHwell asks that you call or email ahead rather than walking in.

Step 5: Bring what you need and attend your visit

Arrive with the items listed above. Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003(a)(3), a minor of any age can consent to testing and treatment for a reportable infectious disease, which includes STIs and HIV, without needing a parent's permission. The same law allows, but does not require, a physician to tell a parent about that care, so it's reasonable to ask the clinic directly how they typically handle this if it matters to you.

Step 6: Let the clinic collect the samples the testing requires

Depending on which tests you and your clinician decide on, this may involve a blood draw, a urine sample, or a swab. The clinic staff will tell you which samples apply to the specific tests you're getting that day.

Step 7: Ask how and when you'll get your results

Ask the clinic how results are delivered, how long they typically take, and what number to call with questions. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines note that some infections take time after a possible exposure before a test can reliably detect them, so a clinician may suggest the timing of a repeat test based on when your exposure happened.

Step 8: Follow up and get connected to care if a clinician recommends it

A clinician can talk with you about what your results mean and what, if anything, comes next. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not cured, but they are treatable or manageable with a clinician's care. If a partner needs care too, Texas rules let a physician or advanced practice registered nurse prescribe STI medication for a patient's partner without that partner being seen first, and a pharmacist can fill that prescription without the partner's name on the label, according to the CDC's summary of Texas's expedited partner therapy rules. Ask your clinician whether this applies to your situation.

Quick Reference: Free Testing Options in Austin

Program	What's Free	How to Connect
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness	STI testing and treatment for patients, no walk-ins	Call (512) 900-3116
Vivent Health - Austin	HIV testing (other services may also be free; ask when you call)	Call (512) 458-2437
Austin Public Health Red Ribbon Program	HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, plus a 20-minute walk-in express test	Call 512-972-5430
Test for Texas (Texas DSHS)	Mail-order home test for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia	Order at testfortexas.org
Vivent Health Depot	At-home HIV test kits, condoms, and lubricant for Austin residents	Order online
Together TakeMeHome	Mailed HIV self-tests, two per package	Order online, age 17 and up

For a broader list of testing locations across the city, including ones with fees, see the local testing list.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

Call ahead even for programs described as walk-in. Hours and holiday closures shift, and a quick call confirms the schedule.
If you're uninsured, say so when you call. Several Austin clinics have sliding-scale fees or assistance programs for people without insurance.
Ask specifically which tests are included in a "free testing" visit. Some free programs cover HIV only, not a full STI panel.
If timing of a possible exposure matters to you, mention it when you call, so staff can advise on the best time to test.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming every clinic takes walk-ins. ASHwell and Kind Clinic's South Austin location do not.
Confusing a free HIV test with a free full STI panel. They are not always the same offer.
Skipping the call-ahead step and arriving to find the clinic closed for a holiday or a first-Friday closure.
Not asking about partner testing or treatment options when that's relevant to your situation.

What You Can Expect

Testing can tell you, together with a clinician, whether an infection is detectable at the time you were tested, and a clinician can help you understand what a result means for you specifically. No test can promise it will catch every infection at every point after a possible exposure, so plan to talk with a clinician about your particular timeline and any follow-up testing they recommend.

Where to Get Free STD Testing in Austin